Capítulo 18: C18 Jedi Initiate Exam (1/2)
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As the final class ended, signaling the end of another day at the Jedi Temple, Peter hurriedly gathered his belongings. His mind, however, was not on the looming Jedi Initiate Exam, which he just enrolled himself in, but on his friend, Aayla, who had stormed out of the classroom without waiting for him as she usually does.
"Aayla, wait up!" Peter called out, navigating past the many younglings making their way through the corridor. But Aayla didn't slow, her pace quick and resolute, a clear sign she was upset.
Since the moment Master Yoda had accepted her impromptu decision to join the Jedi Initiate Exam, Peter had sensed a rift between them. Even his attempts at a congratulating her had been met with silence, a stark contrast to their usually exchanges. And now, she was ignoring him, her silence a heavy weight on his conscience.
Following her all the way to their secret hideout—a spacious storage closet—Peter barely managed to slip inside before Aayla shut the door with a forceful push.
The room fell silent, save for Aayla's heavy breathing. Seeing that she still wouldn't say a word, Peter knew he had to make the first move.
"Look, Aayla, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the exam," Peter started, his voice tinged with genuine regret. "I was nervous, and it just... slipped my mind."
Aayla's gaze remained fixed on the floor, but her silence now seemed contemplative rather than cold.
Finally, she spoke, her voice hesitant. "It's okay, Peter. I forgive you..."
Peter let out a relieved sigh. "Good, you had me worried there for a minute."
As the initial tension began to dissipate, Aayla's demeanor shifted from upset to outright anxious. She began to pace, her movements erratic. "But what about the exam? Do you think it'll be hard? Am I even ready for this?"
Peter watched her, noting the genuine fear in her eyes. He knew he had to be honest with her.
"Aayla, truthfully, I don't think you're ready," he said gently. "Most younglings wait until they're at least 13. And you only just turned 8..."
Aayla stopped pacing, her frustration evident. "But I've been here more than twice as long as you! How can you be ready and not me?"
Peter shrugged, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I've been training nonstop for three years, Aayla. I've pushed myself to the limit each and every day. I think I can pass just about whatever they throw at me."
Aayla frowned, muttering under her breath, "I can pass too..."
"I believe you could, especially on a written test," Peter agreed, trying to bolster her spirits. "But dueling... you know it's not your strong suit."
Aayla huffed, crossing her arms. "I'm not that bad at dueling." Peter just looked at her, waiting. After a moment, she sighed, conceding. "Okay, maybe my swordsmanship could use some work."
"So, are you still planning to join the exam?" Peter asked, his tone soft yet curious.
Aayla's response was resolute, her chin lifting defiantly. "Yes. I refuse to do nothing and let you leave me behind." She said, clearly afraid of being separated from him.
Admiring her determination, Peter's smiled widened. "How about I help you? I can tutor you in dueling, but be warned, I won't go easy on you."
The spark returned to Aayla's eyes as she nodded eagerly. "Deal!"
"Hehe…" Seconds after Aayla accepted his offer, Peter let out a creepy laugh, sending a chill down her spine. Seeing the sadistic smirk on his face, she began to second guess her decision…
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-Aayla POV-
Aayla focused hard, her training saber humming in the air as she tried to anticipate Peter's next move. They were in their secret hideout, a space that had become their makeshift dojo for the day.
Every swing and parry pushed her to her limits, but she couldn't help but reminisce about the journey that had led her to this moment, training under the tutelage of someone she now considered a brother.
It all started on Peter's first day in the bear clan. Aayla remembered the curiosity that bubbled inside her as she approached him, the new and surprisingly old student who seemed to have an invisible shield around him. He was polite, yet there was a distance in his eyes, a barrier that seemed to ward off any attempts at closeness.
After that day, Aayla didn't speak to him again, not until a fateful day that forever changed her perception of Peter Quill. She had accidentally stumbled upon him during one of his dark side outbursts…
The room was shaking, objects levitating as if caught in a tempest, and Peter's eyes glowed a fearsome yellow. The power he exhibited was unlike anything she had ever felt, terrifying yet mesmerizing. For a moment, she was convinced he was a Sith infiltrator, plotting against the Jedi from within.
Her heart raced as she planned to report him, but fate intervened in the form of Peter's Walkman. The music, a relic from his home, changed everything. Fixing it for him led to an unexpected revelation.
As Peter listened, the dark storm of his emotions calmed, replaced by a light side outburst that radiated peace, love, and an almost addictive joy. It was a side of the Force Aayla had never experienced so profoundly.
From that day on, Aayla stuck to Peter like glue, determined to break down the walls he had erected around himself. It wasn't easy. Peter was heavily guarded, unwilling to make a single friend in the Jedi order. But Aayla's persistence paid off, and slowly, she found herself being let in, past the barriers and into his heart.
Three years had passed since their first meeting, and their bond had only deepened. Peter had become more than a friend; he was like a brother, always there to offer a helping hand or a word of encouragement. And now, as they stood facing each other with training sabers in hand, Aayla couldn't help but appreciate his presence in her life.
Every instruction from Peter, every corrective tap of his lightsaber against hers, was a godsend to Aayla. Somehow, in this single spar, she was learning more about dueling than she had in months, and it was all thanks to Peter.
Of course, Peter should have been focusing on his own preparations for the Jedi Initiate exam, yet here he was, investing his time and energy into making sure Aayla was ready.
It was this sort of selflessness that she admired and loved about him.
"Focus, Aayla," Peter's voice broke through her thoughts. "Remember, don't just use your eyes. Feel the Force around you and anticipate my movements."
Taking a deep breath, Aayla nodded, centering herself. She let the Force flow through her, feeling the area around her. "…"
Eyes widening, as she slowly began sensing her opponents every move, Aayla engaged Peter with renewed vigor, their lightsabers clashing in a dance of light and shadow.
In that moment, Aayla realized just how much Peter had impacted her life. And as they trained, she knew that no matter the outcome of the exam, even if they were separated as she feared they would be, their bond would remain unbroken.
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Almost a week had slipped by, a week of relentless practice and countless duels under the dim lights of their secret hideout. Now, the morning of the Jedi Initiate exam had arrived, casting a blend of excitement and nerves over Peter and Aayla.
Together, they navigated the ancient, stone corridors of the Jedi Temple, heading towards the unknown challenges that awaited them in the examination room. Aayla, usually composed, found herself lost in a torrent of nervous chatter, speculating about the myriad possibilities the exam could hold.
Peter listened, a half-smile playing on his lips despite the headache that started to pulse at his temples from her relentless babbling. He admired her enthusiasm, even if it was born from anxiety. Yet before the ache in his head could blossom into a full-blown throb, they arrived at the classroom.
The room was packed with teenagers, their ages ranging from 13 to 16, each wearing the determined look of a youngling on the brink of a major milestone.
As Peter and Aayla stepped inside, a hush fell over the room, a wave of surprised glances sweeping their way. Aayla's youthful appearance drew silent questions and whispers, contrasting sharply with the room's older occupants.
Peter, however, was rather tall for his age, easily blended in more seamlessly among the teenagers. His gaze swept across the room, meeting stares with a blend of curiosity and challenge, until they found their seats.
As they settled, a kind-faced girl approached, her eyes soft with concern. "This is an exam room. You should leave before you get into trouble," she whispered to Aayla, mistaking her for a lost youngling.
Aayla's smile was gentle but firm, a flicker of pride in her eyes. "I'm here for the Jedi Initiate Exam, too," she declared, her voice carrying a quiet strength that stilled the murmurs around them. Peter watched, enjoying the shocked looks that she received.
Before any questions could be asked, suddenly, the door creaked open once more, admitting Grandmaster Yoda into the room. His presence commanded immediate respect, a wave of bows sweeping through the room. All except for Peter and Aayla, who remained upright, their familiarity with Yoda evident in their relaxed demeanors.
After all, unlike everyone else, Peter and Aayla are from the bear clan, which is lead by Yoda himself. They get to see him everyday. Meanwhile, the rest of the room could count on a single hand how many times they'd even caught a glimpse of the Grandmaster.
Yoda's gaze swept over the students, a small smile gracing his lips as he passed by Peter and Aayla. Reaching the front of the room, he stood silent for a moment, his eyes twinkling with an ancient wisdom. "Four parts, this exam has," he began, his voice steady and clear. "Pass the first to continue, you must." With a flick of his wrist, a bunch if data pads levitated from behind the desk, floating gracefully to each participant.
The room fell into a hushed anticipation as the tests landed in front of them. Yoda's next words were simple, "A test of knowledge, the first part is, hmm. Begin, you may." With that, the room dove into silence, each youngling bent over their data pads, getting straight to work.
Peter glanced at Aayla, offering her an encouraging nod. She returned it with a confident look, her fingers tapping away on the data pad.
…
..
.
As the first test concluded, a hush settled over the examination room. The data pads tallied the grades in real-time, their screens flashing with the results.
For Peter and Aayla, the outcome was hardly a surprise; both had passed with ease. But, as the names of those who hadn't made the cut were called out, a somber mood swept through the remaining candidates. Ten hopefuls, heads bowed in disappointment, shuffled out of the room, their dreams of becoming Jedi Padawans delayed until next year.
With the room now thinned, the air felt lighter, yet charged with a new tension. Yoda, small in stature but immense in presence, gestured towards the door, his voice carrying a simple instruction, "Follow, you will."
Peter and Aayla exchanged a quick glance before joining the procession, curiosity and anticipation quickening their steps.
The group was led to a large open room with high ceilings, starkly different from the cramped confines of the previous classroom. Filling this new room was a maze of rocks and boulders, ranging from minuscule to monumental.
Yoda made his way to the center of the room, stood between dozens of boulders. With a calm focus, he stretched out his hands, and the rocks began to rise, levitating the small grandmaster. The display of power was breathtaking, a vivid demonstration of the Force's potential.
As the rocks hovered, Yoda's voice cut through the awed silence. "Lift, you must, as many as you can. In unison, they should float. Weight of each, noted it is. Tally your scores, we will." The task was clear, yet daunting. To manipulate the Force with such precision and strength was no small feat.
The room buzzed with nervous energy as the examinees glanced at one another, some confident, others apprehensive. Peter, on the other hand, didn't seem worried at all, his gaze locked onto a boulder the size of a house.
'Go big or go home, right?'
With a steady gait, Peter Quill stepped forward, bypassing the smaller rocks that most participants had already set their sights upon.
Instead, he stationed himself confidently before a colossal boulder, one that dwarfed the others in both size and challenge. The talk among the participants quickly turned into disbelief and criticism.
"Is he serious? That thing's huge!" one voice scoffed.
"He's lost his mind," chimed another, the doubt palpable in the air.
Amidst the rising tide of skepticism, Aayla's frown deepened. She couldn't stand the negativity directed at Peter. With a fire in her eyes, she shouted, "You can do it, Peter! Show them what you're made of!"
Yoda, observing from a distance, simply raised an eyebrow, his expression one of curiosity rather than doubt, silently awaiting the outcome of Peter's bold choice.
Catching Aayla's supportive cry, Peter offered her a reassuring wink before his expression morphed into one of intense concentration. Closing his eyes, he harnessed the advice once imparted by his Sith master, repeatedly telling himself, 'The boulder weighs no more than a feather...'
As he raised his hands, a palpable tension filled the room. Moments later, the massive boulder trembled, then astonishingly, it began to rise, hovering two meters off the ground. The room fell into stunned silence, the air thick with disbelief.
Even Yoda appeared momentarily taken aback, though his surprise soon melted into a smile of pride and admiration for Peter's remarkable feat.
"Yes, I knew you could do it!" Aayla cheered excitedly, her voice slicing through the shock that had muted the crowd.
However, Peter wasn't finished. Fueled by the success of his initial endeavor, he turned his focus to six more boulders, each of significant size as well. One by one, they lifted from the ground, joining the first in a mesmerizing aerial ballet.
Instantly, the crowd's astonishment deepened into awe, including both Aayla and Yoda.
But as the seconds ticked by, Peter's body began to tremble, showing signs of strain. His face, etched with effort, signaled his growing fatigue. Recognizing his limits, he gently lowered the boulders back to the ground, opening his eyes to meet the sea of shocked and awed faces around him.
"So… Who's next?"
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